Drone Jobs

Object Detection and Tracking Engineer (R5244)

Design and implement real-time perception algorithms for object detection, classification and multi-target tracking, fusing EO/IR cameras, radar and IMU data. Build state estimation and localization pipelines, interpret sensor ICDs, and validate performance in simulation and flight test. Works closely with autonomy and hardware teams on SWaP-constrained airborne platforms.

Shield AI London

Hybrid

Autonomy Integration Engineer (R5245)

Integrates autonomy software onto unmanned aircraft, owning pre-flight build, configuration and validation across onboard compute, sensors and control interfaces. Supports live flight tests with travel around 30-40% of the year, debugging embedded and real-time systems in lab and field, and analysing flight data with autonomy and GNC teams.

Shield AI London

Hybrid

Principal FPGA Engineer

Technical owner of FPGA and programmable logic design inside gimbal payloads, covering the video capture and processing chain, sensor and high-speed serial interfaces, and real-time pointing and stabilisation control. The role takes in-house payload electronics from prototype to qualified production, with short design cycles and direct ownership of logic that flies.

Tekever Bristol

Hybrid Clearance Required

Senior Manufacturing Engineer - UAS Assembly, Integration & Test

One of the first engineers on the ground at a new UK production facility, owning assembly, integration and test processes for unmanned aircraft platforms. Spends most of the time on the shop floor as technical authority, resolving production issues, leading improvement projects and transferring build processes from Portugal into Swindon.

Tekever Swindon

Clearance Required

Business Development Campaign Lead

Focuses on UAS Deep Effects, identifying and developing new defence opportunities while shaping the company's business development strategy. Involves building campaign plans, a qualified opportunity pipeline, and relationships with Army HQ, Field Army and wider defence networks, plus consultancy across defence programmes. Requires deep UK Defence and NATO UAS/Deep Fires domain expertise and security clearance eligibility.

Callen Lenz Salisbury £55,000 – £65,000 pa

On-site Permanent Clearance Required

Autopilot Software Engineer

Develops, configures and tests Ardupilot-based flight control systems for UAV platforms, tuning flight behaviours in SITL and live flight, and integrating sensors such as GPS, cameras and LiDAR. Works within the Autopilot team on requirements capture, architectural design, peer reviews and documentation, using C++ and protocols including MAVLink, CAN, SPI, I2C, UDP and TCP.

Callen Lenz Salisbury £50,000 – £60,000 pa

On-site Permanent Clearance Required

Senior Engineer, Autonomy and Motion Planning (R5263)

Leads delivery of tactical autonomy software for unmanned platforms across air, land, sea and space, architecting behaviours for multi-agent coordination, target engagement and survivability. Owns the full lifecycle from requirements through verification, working in C++ with sensor processing, state estimation and peer-to-peer communications. Acts as technical lead and subject matter expert, mentoring juniors and travelling up to 20% to co-locate with end-users.

Shield AI London

Hybrid

Manager, Autonomy Applications Engineering (R5188)

Lead and coach a team of Forward Deployed Engineers supporting customer deployment, onboarding and sustained use of the Hivemind autonomy SDK in real-world operational environments. The role combines people management, technical escalation and field feedback loops, partnering with product and engineering to improve deployment playbooks and customer readiness. Requires strong C++ and Python background plus up to 30% travel.

Shield AI London

Hybrid

Staff Forward Deployed Engineer (R4962)

Customer-facing engineer deploying Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software on customer sites, with around 30% travel. You build AI and autonomy applications using the enterprise SDK, train users, debug API integration issues, and feed customer feedback back to product engineering. Requires strong modern C++ skills.

Shield AI London

Hybrid

Staff Forward Deployed Engineer (5021)

Customer-facing engineer deploying Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software on-site with customers, supporting integration, training and technical support, and debugging software/API issues. Develops AI and autonomy applications using the enterprise SDK in modern C++, and feeds customer feedback back to product engineering. Involves roughly 30% travel and pre-sales work such as demos and conferences.

Shield AI London

Hybrid

IT Operations Lead

Hands-on operational leadership role owning corporate IT operations, infrastructure delivery and service maturity across a co-managed MSP environment. Acts as senior escalation point for incidents and outages, overseeing networking, virtualisation, cloud, endpoint platforms and identity/access management while coordinating suppliers and security teams.

Tekever Bristol

Additive Manufacturing Technician

Hands-on role operating and maintaining industrial additive manufacturing equipment, including SLS and polymer systems, taking builds from preparation through post-processing and inspection. Works closely with Manufacturing, Design Engineering and Quality to develop processes, support DfAM activities and production components for aerospace and defence systems.

Tekever Swindon

Hybrid

Commodity Specialist

Works at the intersection of engineering and procurement, embedded in the product development lifecycle from concept to production. Provides supply chain input into component and technology selection across electronics, mechanical, materials, powertrain and vision systems, challenging design decisions on cost, availability, capacity and supplier risk. Supports design reviews, technical reviews and new product introduction, establishing early supplier engagement.

Tekever Bristol

Hybrid

Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Composites Manufacture

Own and develop composite manufacturing processes across a UK aerospace production operation, covering hand lay-up, pre-preg processing, trimming, finishing and bonded structures. The role involves transferring existing capability into the UK, improving process capability and yield, developing tooling, and leading root-cause investigations while working closely with Operations, Design and Quality.

Tekever Swindon

Hybrid

Quality Manager

Hands-on quality management role leading day-to-day assurance within a Swindon manufacturing operation, establishing controlled processes that meet AS9100 and ISO 9001. Involves FAIRs and AS9102, nonconformance control, root-cause analysis (5 Whys, Ishikawa, 8D), audits and Kaizen improvement, working with Manufacturing Engineering, Production and Supply Chain.

Tekever Swindon

Hybrid